BROTHERHOOD, LOVE AND SURVIVAL TAKE CENTER STAGE IN ‘TOPDOG/UNDERDOG’

September 22, 2026

Director Steve H. Broadnax III is bringing Suzan-Lori Parks' Pulitzer Prize-winning play "Topdog/Underdog" to The Old Globe theater from September 25 through October 18, presenting it as a love story about two codependent Black brothers named Lincoln and Booth. The production features actors Alano Miller and Elijah Jones performing in an intimate theater-in-the-round setting that places audiences directly around the brothers' cramped apartment.

Who is affected

The two brothers Lincoln and Booth (characters in the play)
Black audiences seeking layered portrayals of Black masculinity
Actors Alano Miller and Elijah Jones
Director Steve H. Broadnax III
The Old Globe theater and its audiences
Black theater patrons attending the October 9 Black Theatre Night
Playwright Suzan-Lori Parks
Old Globe Artistic Director Barry Edelstein

What action is being taken

The play is opening September 25 at The Old Globe and running through October 18
Broadnax is directing the production
The production is being staged in the round with audiences surrounding the set
Music is being incorporated into the production, from blues to contemporary sounds
The Old Globe is hosting a Black Theatre Night on October 9 with a pre-show mixer

Why it matters

This production is significant because it brings a Pulitzer Prize-winning work—recognized as the greatest American play of the 21st century—to San Diego audiences. The play offers an unusually nuanced and complete portrayal of Black masculinity that goes beyond media stereotypes, showing Black men across the full human spectrum as funny, vulnerable, competitive, and deeply human. It explores universal themes of family, betrayal, survival, and self-worth that transcend racial boundaries while remaining rooted in the specific experiences of Black men. The production also represents an important milestone for The Old Globe in presenting the work of Suzan-Lori Parks, a singular and distinctive voice in American theater.

What's next

The play runs through October 18
Black Theatre Night is scheduled for October 9, featuring a pre-show mixer and community viewing experience

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint